One of the main reasons for the strike is the employer’s refusal to allow reasonable sick leave, according to the union.

The members voted to join AUPE in December 2011 and have been trying to negotiate a first collective agreement ever since.

“We tried everything we could to avoid taking this action,” said AUPE president Guy Smith in a press release. “We tried to solve this at the bargaining table, but there has been nothing but delays and stalling on the management side.”